Wednesday, February 19, 2014

10 Work Morale Boosters For Tough Times: For Freelancers, 9-to-5'ers, and YOU

No, I don't normally smile like this at my computer desk, but the planners and coffee are really here.

It's hard to find the will to work when you're your own boss. Sometimes you have to make do and force. I was feeling out of it last week but better now, ready to kick ass again. Don't feel guilty for procrastinating, it's a primal human instinct in place to make sure energy wasn't wasted when food was scarce. We have a natural inclination to take the easiest way out, to rest before work when there's an option, but we can prevail. Here's how:

1. Make a Schedule: Make it detailed with time slots and everything so you can't stray.2. Schedule Events:Schedule "work days" with friends, have them visit by 5 so your house HAS to be clean, etc.3. Exercise: Try moving for 30 minutes a day, energy will flow, ideas will race.4. Sleep: When I do get enough work flows MUCH better. Throw in 8+ cups of water/day while you're at it!5. Breaks: Long or short, when you can't take it anymore take a break. Return to work fresh.

6. Vent: Vent every bitter thought to a good friend. You can't write them in a diary, too. It helps.7. Scenery Change: Vital for creatives, you cannot make in a bubble. Walk. Go somewhere new.8. Essential Oil: Keep some by your work space to sniff/apply. Rosemary/citrus scents are energizing.9. Caffeine: It's a mood and energy booster, I use it very sparingly to avoid dependency.10. Re-Arrange/Cleab: It's another fact that humans thrive in a non-cluttered clean environment. Re-arrange your work space. Cut all clutter, you'll feel better.

Do tell, what do you do to boost morale and get back to work when times are tough? I'm doing all of the above and it's awesome. Today for a change opened all my apartment windows, I can hear dozens of birds chirping outside and it's lovely...

18 comments:

Thanks for posting this. I was feeling bad because picture taking has been a bust here without sunlight and even with a good photo station it wasn't working. Had to do a take over of all I did yesterday, but I took a break, had a good snack and got busy. Now I am rearranging some kitchen stuff in a new cabinet and will get to editing and listing. Over the hump now.

Very good! Yesterday I just could not will myself to work so I read comic books most of the day. Now I'm extra productive this morning. You can't go crazy with the breaks but sometimes when creativity/body won't budge you just have to go with it.

It's normal to have these blah, uninspired moments. I rarely have any such feelings last more than a day, so if feelings do arise I give myself permission to take the day off from my expectations. I believe if I take more subtle notice to these moments rather pushing through them I'll be better for it the long run.

That's what I'm finally starting to notice and let myself do, too. Sometimes you just have to stop, sometimes when you push through you when you shouldn't you're not accomplishing much when you look back anyway and that was time better spent refreshing anyway.

That is, gonna hop to working on mine now! :D From your profile photo I'd say you're better suited to p/t modeling, I hate being in front of the camera but I'm forcing myself to get used to it so people don't think this blog is run by a robot..

Yes. I had it with "Re-arrange" as "Clean/Re-arrange" but decided a cleaning break does double-duty as exercise, de-stressing, a break from an annoying task...works in my head, didn't explain it very well.

Excellent tips, Van! For me... music is key. I can't get into the cleaning or exercise mode without a rockin' playlist. Or if I'm set to relax... I'll put a blues or jazz record on. Sometimes even writing comes easier with a bit of background noise to break the monotony of clicking keys.

Good points all of em! I need to create more of a schedule. Coffee is not poison. It actually has a lot of benefits unless you drink a whole pot of it. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270202.php the definitive study is a link at the bottom is Drinking Coffee, More Good Than Harm? I also think your lying, I have a feeling you DO sit at your desk smiling like that *all* the time. I'm calling your bluff. :D

There will be studies that agree and disagree with coffee, it's all a matter of preference. For me being sensitive to it/not a drinker it keeps me up all night and puts me in a sleep deprivation cycle. Oh, but I love it ;D And miss it. And drink tiny teacups of it when I need it. I personally coffee/tea benefits are way overrated. They have their cons, too. Like speeding up your metabolism temporarily in a bad way, dependency, etc.